King staff could strike after the Candy Crush maker rejects collective bargaining agreement
Two Swedish trade unions have formally notified King of an impending strike after the Microsoft-owned game publisher rejected a collective bargaining agreement following over a year of negotiations. Sveriges Ingenjörer and Unionen submitted the strike notice after King’s president Todd Green declined the agreement in June, stating that the company’s current benefits offering is superior to what the collective bargaining terms would provide.
The potential strike is scheduled to begin at 5am on Friday, September 25, and will impact King’s offices in Stockholm and Malmö. The action represents a significant escalation in labor negotiations between the developer and the Swedish trade unions, marking a major industrial dispute in the gaming industry.
Sweden’s National Mediation Office will now appoint independent mediators to attempt resolving the dispute before the strike deadline. The outcome of these mediation efforts will determine whether King and the unions can reach a compromise agreement or whether strike action proceeds as scheduled.